Gov. Patrick Hails Ethics Reform Bill

BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick says he intends to sign a bill approved by Massachusetts lawmakers designed to toughen state ethics standards in the wake of a series of political scandals.

Patrick hailed passage of the bill as the final piece of a reform package that included transportation and pension reforms already approved by lawmakers.

Patrick had threatened to veto a sales tax hike approved by lawmakers unless they delivered all three bills to his desk.

Patrick now says he’ll sign the tax increase assuming lawmakers agree to a few final changes to the transportation bill.

He also said that by signing the sales tax increase, he hopes to be able to avoid a proposed toll hike scheduled to go into effect on the Massachusetts Turnpike on July 1.